Pages

Jul 28, 2017

I have to thank my friend Leah who recommended this book. The novel is mystery and psychological thriller, written by Marie Belloc and the story is turned into Hitchcock directed silent film "The Lodger". Since I liked Hitchcock movies, I bought this kindle edition.

The story is Mr.Bunting and his wife Ellen have a lodge and they are in a desperate need of money to survive. The arrival of Mr.Sleuth as a lodger first appears to be a blessing for the Buntings but later it turns out to be a curse because series of murders occur as intoxicated women are killed by a lanky man carrying a brown bag.

An image from the movie "The Lodger" courtesy you tube website

The description of the murderer makes Mrs.Bunting to consider that the lodger should be the serial killer. As the days roll by, Mr.Bunting also comes to the conclusion that their eccentric lodger is the murderer. Is their opinion right? Or the arrival of Mr.Sleuth and murders are just a coincidence?

A superb psychological thriller the author narration conveys our own thoughts, especially Mrs.Bunting, a woman who is very clear headed and having a good memory. There are less number of characters in the novel, recurring characters are Mrs.Bunting, the Lodger, Mr.Bunting, Joe Chandler (attached to the detective section of the Metropolitan Police) and Daisy, daughter of Mr.Bunting. Apart from the main story each character have their own problems and conflicts.

Of all these characters the Lodger and Mrs. Bunting captured my attention. At the end I felt pity for them, the sleep deprived Mrs.Buntings, her contemplation, her inability to share her thoughts are worth mentioning, the highlight is that her attentive observation on her lodger from his sneaking out from his room in mid night and return. The author has used a powerful statement to show how pathetic her condition is, "She lay thinking and listening –listening and thinking".

I liked to quote one line from the novel:

"Any ordeal is far less terrifying far easier to meet with courage, when it is repeated, that is even a milder experience which is entirely novel".

Highly recommended for those who like mystery thrillers. After reading this it is best to watch Hitchcock's version of "The Lodger".

Jul 23, 2017

Clive Cussler the master
storyteller, this is yet another feather to his cap. I was awestruck by
his skill of interweaving various sub plots in the story.

The
novel starts in the year 1966, with Arta Casilighio the teller of
Beverly-Wilshire bank steals 120000 dollars and hatches a plan to escape
from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand in a cargo ship, but she
was killed by Korean seamen.

Another sub story, in Augustine
Island, Alaska a poison leak in sea kills many, the nature of the agent
is that it is absorbed through skin which turns out to be a deadly
biological weapon, called Nerve Agent S. Years back the nerve agent was
to be buried in desert, however some of the containers disappeared.

NUMA
is asked to find out the source of the poison. Working along with
Dr.Julie Mendoza, Pitt finds out the sunken ship and all the containers
of Nerve Agent S. But unexpected eruption of the volcano tilts the ship
and accidentally kills Julie.

Through the help of Alhambra Iron
and Boiler Company and St. Julien Perlmutter, Pitt comes to know the
ship Pilottown name has been changed several times and that the San
Marino, the Belle Chasse and the Pilottown are indeed one and the same
ship. The ownership points to Bougainville Maritime Lines, ruled by 89
year old Madame Min Koryo Bougainville.

Sub plot number 3, the
President of the United States, Vice President Margolin, President Pro
Temp-ore Marcus Larimer and Speaker of the House Alan Moran were
abducted from Presidential yacht and mind controlled by a psychologist
Aleksei Lugovoy in a secret lab, a part of plot of Soviet Union and Min
Koryo.

Meanwhile Paul Suvorov a KGB officer misunderstands the
mind control plan and tries to release, but he takes only Alan Moran and
Marcus Larimer to a Russian cruise ship Leonid Andreyev. There Pitt's
love interest Loren Smith who happens to be in the cruiser sees Moran
and Larimer, she informs to her secretary.

She notifies Pitt.
And Pitt along with Al Giordino disguises as a couples enters the cruise
ship, but the ship was detonated many were killed. Pitt, Al and Loren
tries to board nearby boat. As Moran and Loren boards, Pitt was attacked
by Lee Tong, the grandson of Min Koryo and he takes Loren with him.

The
President under mind control returns to White House, rules as a
Dictator. The Congress tries to impeach. Pitt not fully recovered
through help from Yaeger and Perlmutter finds out the secret lab and
tries their best to save the United States, Vice President and Loren
Smith.

1. What in hell are these? Giordino mumbled, emerging from the cobwebs.

Welcome gifts from the sanitation department. (When hood and gloves given to wear for protection against nerve agent S)

2.
Deducing the murderer in an Agatha Christie novel is kindergarten stuff
compared to finding a lost derelict under hundreds of square miles of
water. Sometimes you get lucky early. Most of the time you don't.
(Pitt's poetic response to Dover on finding the shipwreck)

3. No one in the world is immune from curiosity. (Pitt asking to release news about finding of two ship wrecks instead of one)

6. Nice place you have here, came a voice from the doorway. but your elevator is out of order.

You! he gasped. Pitts face tired, haggard and dark with beard stubble lit up in a smile.

Lee Tong Bougainville. What a coincidence. You're alive!

A trite observation. (Climax dialog between Pitt and Lee Tong)

7.
Happen to know Lee Tong Bougainville personally, said Emmett. He is a
respected business executive who donates heavily to political campaigns.
So does the Mafia and every charlatan who's out to milk the government
money machine, said Pitt icily.

8. Why have you pursued my
grandmother and me, Mr.Pitt? he demanded, stalling. Why have you set out
to wreck Bougainville Maritime?

That's like Hitler asked why the Allies invaded Europe. In my case, you were responsible for the death of a friend.

9. Sal Casio? she asked. With his daughter. And Min Koryo Bougainville? In hell. (Pitt answers to Loren in the end)

A
penthouse suite, he corrected her. And who's going to pay for this
opulent interlude? Pitt looked down at her in mock astonishment. Why the
government, of course. Who else? (Pitt answers to Loren in the end)

Jul 15, 2017

I did not read the blurb as I already read his fabulous psychological
thriller White is the coldest colour and this novella "Bully Boy Blue".
Kathy is dominated by his husband the bully boy Mike Connors, who is
also a Police Inspector. Everyone including her mother and friends
believes Mike's version of Kathy, that she is suffering from a mental
breakdown after a miscarriage. Now Kathy finds that she is pregnant
again she wants to save her baby and get rid of Mike Connors once and
for all, did she escaped from the clutches of her husband and how she
did will reveal the last chapters of the novella. The ending is superb.

The
story is packed with abuse and violence and some will not like. The
story is very tense and in some places we will wish/pray for her
deliverance.

Jul 6, 2017

I
strongly believe we are not alone in the universe. Twenty years back,
evening time, my family use to lie on the terrace and watch the sky and
we often see a small ball of light moving from north to south. Sometimes
couple of lights trying to overtake. The lights won't blink and we told
this to our friends and relatives, they did not believe us.

Coming
back to the book, it is about recounting of Grant Cameron work on
investigating the numerous unidentified flying object sightings that
occurred in the Canadian province of Manitoba in the year 1975-76. The
major portion of this book is retelling of the many tales told by
citizens involved in the sightings. Charlie Red Star is name given to
the glowing, pulsating disk shaped UFO.

The tales are vividly
explained and exhaustive. Sometimes recounting feels a drag and the
author has tried to change the flow by placing diagrams and photos.

Not
only the author had given the records of sightings alone but also given
elaborate information of how animals behaved during the appearance of
Charlie Red Star, recording the sound and testing the wave pattern.
People who become obsessed tried to capture the image of the flying
saucer, but only one Tanis Major captured photographs are the best. Even
the speed of the UFO is given. The author also raises several
questions, what if these unidentified lights belong to alien technology?
If the aliens wish to remain hidden, why do they place lights around
their craft for all to see? Are they afraid of a mid air collision? Are
these lights indicators that they want to land at our airports?

According
to the story it appears that not only one UFO was involved, but
commonly many had experienced watching Charlie Red Star.

In the
end the author has given exhaustive detailed notes in chapter wise. I
enjoyed reading the book and I recommend this to UFO buffs and
conspiracy theorist.

Video from you tube website:

I like to quote the last line of the book.

"
Reliving old memories and dreams of the past. When he hunts through the
night, we won't question why. Good Night, Charlie Red Star - Old Chief
of the Sky".